Video referrals at hockey World Cup

The hockey World Cup, commencing in Delhi later this month, will allow players to ask for one referral per match from the video umpire, the game's governing body said on Friday.

On the basis of the trial during Champions Trophy in Melbourne last year, each team will be allowed one Team Referral during any match, including extra time periods and penalty stroke competitions, on the award of goals, penalty strokes and penalty-corners, the FIH said.

Any team player, who is on the pitch at the time of the incident rather than just the captain, can request a Team Referral. The team will retain its right to referral after every successful referral.

Besides, the Team Referral, match umpires may also refer decisions to the video umpire when they are not convinced that they have taken, or are able to take, a correct decision relating to the awarding or disallowing of goals.

"FIH will continue the use of Video Umpire Team Referrals at the Hero Honda FIH World Cup. Under the current procedures, Match Umpires may refer decisions to the Video Umpire when they are not convinced that they have taken, or are able to take, the correct decision relating to the awarding or disallowing of goals," it added.

"In addition, and on the basis of the trial that was undertaken at the Champions Trophy in Melbourne, Australia at the end of last year, each team will be allowed one Team Referral during any match (including any extra time periods and penalty stroke competitions).

"In the event that a Team Referral is upheld, the referring team will retain its right of referral (i.e. they will be able to make another referral).

"The Team Referrals trial provide for a wider range of referral possibilities than for the Umpire Referrals, but are restricted to decisions within the 23 meter areas relating to the award (or non-award) of: Goals, Penalty Strokes, Penalty Corners. The award of personal penalty cards may not be the subject of a Team Referral."

Elaborating, the FIH said, "There is one slight change to the Video Umpire procedures following the Melbourne trials. Now any team player, who is on the pitch at the time of the incident (rather than just the captain), can request a Team Referral. This player must indicate to the Umpire that he wishes to use his Team Referral.

"He must do so immediately after the incident or decision which is to be referred as well as confirming this verbally to the Umpire. The player requesting the Team Referral must inform the Umpire of the exact nature of the decision (or non-decision).

"The Umpire will then request Video Umpire assistance and relay the necessary information by radio to the Video Umpire. The normal Video Umpire procedures will then be followed."

Ken Read, FIH Competitions Committee Chairman and World Cup Tournament Director, said, "We learned a lot about the Team Referral procedures in Melbourne. As a result we are confident that our experience from the Champions Trophy will help ensure that the system will be of real assistance in reducing any major umpiring errors."